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Fish oil is a source of the Omega 3 known as DHA that a new study suggests protects against inflammation, brain cell death in drinkers.

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine exposed cultures of adult rat brain cells to amounts of alcohol equivalent to more than four times the legal limit for driving. These cell cultures were compared with cultures of brain cells exposed to the same high levels of alcohol, plus a compound found in fish oil called omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

They found there was about 90 per cent less neuroinflammation and neuronal death in the brain cells exposed to DHA and alcohol than in the cells exposed to alcohol alone.

Lead researcher Michael Collins said more studies are needed to determine if fish oil protects against alcohol-related dementia.

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“Fish oil has the potential of helping preserve brain integrity in abusers,” he said.

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